Another Weekend of Cross-Country

It seems that cross-country races are a bit like London buses, nothing for a wheil and then along come a couple at the same time. Last weekend, December 13th and 14th, both Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire had league matches, the latter also being the County Championships. Despite it being one of four counties' championships (Glos, Avon, Somerste and Wiltshire), there were not as many runners at Bath as I had expected. This was a slight concern for the author who was worried he might end up qualifying for the Inter-counties, but a pretty steady run and a reasonable number of MV65 runners ensured there was no risk of that!

Florence on a cold morning for XC

On Saturday was the Oxford league match in Horspath, replacing the cancelled Swindon based race. Perhaps with the Glos next day and a Club social at the Parkrun that morning, we only one runner, but it was important, as it was Florence Tanner's first non-school cross-country race.

Florence was only 8 in July and so the Oxford league are the only ones she can compete in, as Glos don't do Under 9s' races anymore (boo, hiss - well, it is Panto Season). So it was really about the experience rather than the performance at this stage. Juniors' helper, dad Nick, stated that Florence was "a bit unsure at the start but she was quite pleased with herself at the end".

On Sunday, we had a few Juniors and Teens turn out, but ony two seniors : Aaron Willis and Dorian Matts. The latter said he was running in the Ladies race, as they haven't introduced DNA testing for XC races yet!

In the Under-11s girls race we had "XC stalwart", Hetty Franklin (10), as our only entry,

but in the boys' we had : Jacob Harrison (9), Stanley Woodfine (9), Ted Ralling (10) and William Richards (9), i.e. enough for a Team.

Hetty ran very well to finish 7th in her race, so can't be far from a podium at the end of the season. The boys also ran well with Jacob also 7th in his race, as first boy home, closely folllowed by William with Stanley just pipping Ted in a long sprint for the line.

Ephra, Ed and Wilf = our 13s

In the Under 13s, again we had only one girl, Ephra (11), who turned up to represent the Club, despite being in a Musical Theatre show until 11pm the night before! Well, that's one way to prepare for a race! We had two boys running: Ed Knight (11) and Wilf Ryder (13), the latter running in his last season at this age group, although they may all be in different age groups next year when we move to even number age groups!

We didn't have a girl in the Under 15s, but we did manage to get our U15 boys team out again, this time :

• Toby Conway (13)

• Wilf Williams (14)

• Henry Woodfine (13)

They ran well, especially Wilf who arrived so late, that not only did he not get a warm-up but also not a Club vest! This time, Henry managed to pass Toby to be our first boy home. Perhaps, the less hilly course benefitted him.

Aaron looking strong at end of men's XC

In other races, both second claimer, Ben Conway (Toby's older brother) and recent ex-member Ben Clarke (regular Club Cirencester parkrunners will recognise the back of Ben's vest) did well in their County championships. Ben Conway came second in the Under 15's for Gloucestershire, while Ben Clarke won the Gloucestershire's Under 17's.

Lastly the seniors (reported elsewhere), Aaron appeared strong throughout, running 3:45 per km (6 minute miles!), to place second in his age category in the Glos league race.

Dorian, concerned that he might run out of steam, ran a bit too conservatively for most of the course (~6 mins per km! = jogging?) but out-sprinted two surprised ladies in the last 150m downhill showing good sprinting form, if not endurance running technique, to show he was trying really!

RESULTS

13th December

Oxford U9 Girls

1st Megan Rose (Swindon Harriers) 5:42

17th Florence Tanner 07:40

22 ran

14th December (provisional league placings, not in Counties)

Gloucestershire League and County Championships - no times available yet

U11 boys

1st Freddie Miles (Cheltenham)

7th Jacob Harrison

12th William Richards

25th Stanley Woodfine

26th Ted Ralling

U11 girls

1st Carrie Stirling-Jones (Stroud)

7th Henrietta Franklin

U13 boys

1st Albert Jakubowski (Team Bath)

15th Ed Knight

17th Wilf Ryder

U13 girls

1st Olivia Lynch (Team Bath AC)

16th Ephra Coupland

U15 boys

1st Conall King (Team Bath AC)

26th Henry Woodfine

30th Toby Conway

31st Wilf Williams

MV40

1st Paul Gardiner (Westbury)

2nd Aaron Willis

MV65

1st Anthony Foy (Tewkesbury)

6th Dorian Matts